Lifting mechanism



April 1940 u. R. JONES 2,468,297

LIFTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 50, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BNVENTOR URBAN R JON$ I ARNEs April 1949. u. R. JONES 2,468,297

LIFTING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 30, 1944 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR unuuv B. JONES ATTO R N EYS April 26, 1949 u. R. JONES LIFTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet -3 Filed Sept. 30, 1944 INVENTOR URBAN R. JQNES ATTORNEYS April 26, .1949. JONES 2,468,297

LIFTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HE.IU. I-TE.H

INVENTOR URBAN R. JONES ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 26, 1949 2,468,297 LIFTING MECHANISM Urban R. Jones, Sidney, Ohio, assignor of onehalf to Waldorf Sachs, Sidney, Ohio Application September 30, 1944, Serial No. 556,555

This invention relates to mechanisms adapted to lift a load relative to a stationary support, and more particularly the invention relates to mechanlsms of a type adapted to pick up a load, lift the same and carry it away from the spot at which it was picked up. The invention has particular utility in connection with a buck-rake adapted to pick up a hayload in the field and carry the load to a suitable place at which it can be deposited.

An object of the invention is to provide a lifting mechanism for a load-carrying device that is constructed and arranged in such a manner that the lifting mechanism causes rotation of the load-carrying device about an axis of support for the device to lift a load into a carrying position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a load-carrying device supported upon wheels and associated with a lifting mechanism wherein the wheels of the load-carrying device can be prevented from turning to permit operation of the lifting mechanism to raise a load by movement of the load-carrying device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a load-carrying device supported upon wheels for portability and adapted to be disposed in a position adjacent the ground to pick up a load and be positioned a substantial distance above the ground when carrying the load, and having a lifting mechanism associated with the load-carrying device for changing the position of the load-carrying device from the pick-up position to the load-carrying position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein operation of the lifting mechanism can be effected when the wheels of 4 Claims. (Cl. 5.6-397) ratus illustrated in Figure 1, showing the loadcarrying device in a load pick-up position.

Figure 3 isa side elevational view of the apparatus similar to Figure 2 showing the apparatus in a load-carrying position.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4--4 of Figure 1, and showthe load-carrying device are locked against rotation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a load-carrying device in accordance with the foregoing objects having a lifting mechanism associated therewith provided with a telescoping mechanism for moving the load-carrying device from a load pick-up position to a load-carrying position.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a load-carrying device and lifting mechanism incorporating the principles of this invention, and shows the device attached to a tractor for operating the same.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the appaing the load-carrying device and lifting mechanism in position for picking up a load.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1 similar to Figure 4 showing the load-carrying device and the lifting mechanism in position for carrying a load.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 1'| of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line l0|0 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the wheel of the load-carrying device.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of locking mechanism for holding the lifting device in either of two extreme positions.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a modified arrangement of an apparatus particularly with regard to the wheel mounting structure for accomplishing the results of this invention.

The apparatus of this invention is a loadcarrying mechanism adapted to pick up a load from the ground, raise it into a position in which it can be carried and transported to a suitable place of deposit, after which the mechanism is operated to deposit the load. Particularly, the apparatus illustrated is in the form of a buckrake that is adapted to be moved into the field by a suitable power source such as a tractor. When the buck-rake is in the field in suitable location, the rake is permitted to drop into position for picking up a load of hay, or other products, whereupon the tractor drives the rake so that the hay will be loaded upon the same. When a suitable load has been placed upon the rake, the lifting mechanism associated with the rake will be operated to cause the tines of the rake to be raised from the ground and thus pick up the load, whereupon the load can be transported to a suitable place of deposit. When the load is ready to be dropped, the lifting mechanism can again be 0perated to permit the rake to drop into load pickup position, and by driving the tractor away from the load, it will be removed from the rake, whereupon the lifting mechanism can again be operated to place the rake in load-carrying position, but at this time the rake will be empty, whereupon the empty rake can be again returned to the field.

While the apparatus disclosed in the drawings is directly associated with the buck-rake, and will be specifically described in connection with the buck-rake and its operation, yet it is understood that the liftin mechanism for the buckrake can be applied to other types of load-carrying apparatus.

In this invention, the buck-rake I is connected to a tractor II by means of a hitch |2. The buck-rake Ill consists of an open framework platform l3 adapted to support a load. The platform I3 is provided with open framework sidewalls l4 and a similar end wall l5. The walls |3, l4 and I5 therefore provide the main body of the buck-rake Ill.

The body of the buck-rake ||l has a tubular housing l6 extending transversely thereof along the lower rear corner of the body. The housing l6 carries the open framework of the platform |3 by suitable bracket members |1, thereby providing a unitary structure between the housing l6 and the body of the buck-rake ID.

The housing l6 carries an axle l8 that supports the wheels l3 upon which the buck-rake moves when being transported from one place to another.

The wheels |9 are each provided with a brake 2|! consisting of a brake-drum 2|, see Figure 11, attached to the wheel |9 closed at one side by a closure member 22 attached to the housin l6, thereby enclosing a brake mechanism for operating the brake bands 23, the functioning of which brakes will be hereinafter described.

A brake-rod 24 is provided for. actuating each of the brakes 20. The brake-rods 24 are supported at one end thereof by suitable means within the brake 20, and at the opposite end by means of a bearing sleeve. The brake-rods 24 each have a lever-arm 26 extending radially therefrom for rotating the brake-rods 24 and thus actuating the brakes 26. Springs 21 connect the lever-arms 26 with a bell-crank lever 28 pivoted upon the bracket 29 by the pivot pin 36, the bellcrank lever 28 being provided with a rope 3| for operating the same and thus operating the brakes through tensioning of the springs 21. The housing I6 has a tubular tongue 32 extending outwardly from the body of the buck-rake ID that receives a sliding tubular member 33 having the hitch |2 on the end thereof. The members 32 and 33 thus form a telescoping tongue that extends between the buck-rake l6 and a power apparatus such as the tractor I for drawin or pushing the buck-rake Ill. The tubular member 32 has a sleeve 34 that extends around the housing I6, the housing |6 being rotatable within the sleeve 34. Side braces 35 and 36 secured to the forward end of the tubular member 32, such as by a suitable welding process, extend rearwardly toward the housin l6 and terminate in the sleeves 31 and 38 respectively, in which the housing I6 is rotatable.

The rear wall of the body of the buck-rake I0 is provided with gusset plates 40 that stand vertically from the platform l3 and are secured to the housing |6 by welding, or by other suitable means. Tie-bars 4|, extend between the upper ends of the gusset plates 46 and a sleeve 42 secured upon the tubular member 33, whereby the gusset plates 46 are tilted in either direction from vertical upon movement of the tubular member 33 within the tubular member 32 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The tie-bars. are attached to the sleeve 42 by means of ball and socket joints 43, see Fig-. ure 9, and the sleeve 42 is adjustably secured to the tubular member 33 by screws 44. Also, the tie-bars 4| are attached to the gusset plates 40 by means of swivel connections.

A latching device 45 is provided for holding the tubular member 33 in one position relative to the tubular member 32 when the body of the rake I6 is in position for carryin a load, and may hold the tubular member 33 in a second position relative to the tubular member 3,2 when the body of the rake I0 is in position to pick up a load.

lhe latching device 45 consists of a triangularshaped head 46 pivoted between the brackets 41 secured to the tubular member 32, a pivot pin 48 extending between the brackets 41 upon which the head 46 is pivotally mounted. The opposite ends 49 and 50 of the head 46 engage a latch member 5| secured to the member 33 and adapted to move within a slot 52 provided in the tubular member 32 beneath the head 46.

A sprin 53 extends between the handle 54 attached to the head 46 and a fastener 55 on the sleeve 42 tending to retain the handle 54 and the head 46 in position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the positions of the apparatus during operation of the same, Figures 2 and 4 illustrating the apparatus in position for either picking up a load or depositing a load while Figures 3 and 5 illustrate the apparatus in position when the buck-rake is being transported over the ground either with a load or empty.

With the apparatus in position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the buck-rake I0 is ready to be rearwardly to move the buck-rake as indicated.

With the tractor moving rearwardly, driving the buck-rake against the products to be picked up, the tubular member 33 will be pushed forwardly into the tubular member 32 until the latch member 5| engages the end of the slot 52, thus holdin the buck-rake in position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 by means of the tie-bars 4|. When a sufficient load has been picked up by the buck-rake Ill, the operator of the tractor If is then ready to operate the lifting mechanism to raise the body of the buck-rake ||l into carrying position.

To perform the aforementioned operation, the operator of the tractor pulls upon the rope 3|, causing the brakes 26 of the wheels I9 to be set. The tractor II is then driven forwardly, pulling the member 33 outwardly of the member 32, and causing the latch member 5| to move beneath the head 46. When the latch member 5| is passed beyond the right-hand edge of the head 46, see Figure 5, the end 50 of the head 46 will drop behind the latch member 5| to hold the member 33 in position in the member 32 as illustrated in Figure 5.

When the member 33 moves in a rightward direction as pulled by the tractor the tie-bars 4| pullupon the gusset plates 46 in a rightward direction to rotate the housing I6 within the sleeves 34, 3'1 and 38 of the tongue and associated brace members to raise the platform I3 01 the buck-rake from the ground. The tractor may then be driven to any suitable location pulling the buck-rake behind it, the latch mechanism 45 holding the body of the buck-rake H) in position as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5.

When the load in the buck-rake is taken to its destination, and the operator is ready to deposit the load, the handle 54 of the latch mechanism 45 is moved upwardly to rotate the head 46 in a counter-clockwise direction and'thus release the latch member 5| from behind the end 50 of the head 46 to thereby permit the tubular member 32 to move in a rightward direction, see Figure 5, the load in the buck-rake l causing the housing l6 to rotate in the sleeves 34, 31 and 38 to drop the body of the buck-rake in the position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. Of course, in performing this operation, the buck-rake l0 will move toward the tractor H as permitted by the free rotation of the wheels IS. The tractor is then driven forwardly to draw the platform l3 from beneath the load in the buck-rake.

When the operator of the tractor II is ready to return to the field, he will again set the brakes 20in the manner previously referred to, move the tractor forwardly to raise the buck-rake in the position as illustrated in Figure 3, release the brakes 20, and proceed into the field.

In the previous description of the operation of the mechanism, it has been referred to as only latching the member 33 in one position relative to the member 32, namely, in the load-carrying position. However, if the operator at any time desires to hold the member 33 in position relative to the member 32 when the buck-rake is in a pick-up position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the operator can raise the handle 54 until the end 49 of the head 46 is positioned against the latch member This operation may be desirable when shifting the tractor back and forth to place the buck-rake in proper position for picking up a load, or in case it is necessary to pick up loads in various closely adjacent portions of the field and it is necessary to move the tractor in both directions to get the buck-rake in a proper position.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement of the latching mechanism 45 .wherein the head 46 may be biased either in position'as shown in Figures 4 and 5, or may be biased in the opposite position just referred to above, to selectively hold the member 3'3 in either of the two positions relative to the member 32.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the latching mechanism 45a is provided with the latch-head 46a adapted to engage the latch member 5|a in the same manner as heretofore described. However, a spring 56 extends between the head 46a and a bracket 51 of the tubular member 32a so as to provide a snap-acting over-center actuating mechanism. When the apparatusis in position as illustrated in Figure 12, the head 46a is biased in a clockwise direction to hold the end 50a against the latch member 5|a. The head 46a can be rotated about the pivot pin 48a to thus throw the spring 56 from the right-hand side of the pivot 48a to the left-hand side thereof and thus bias the head 46 in a counter-clockwise direction to hold the members 32 and 33 in position as illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figure 13 there is shown a slightly modified arrangement of the means for mounting the support wheel upon the body of the load-carrying device. In this modification, the body 60 of the load-carrying device is provided with, a stub axle 6| suitably mounted to the side-wall 62 of the body 60. The support wheel 63 is carried upon the stub axle 6| in any suitable manner. The wheel 63 is provided with a brake 64 that is adapted to function in the same manner as the brake 20 heretofore disclosed and described.

The brake 64 is operated by a brake-rod 65 through a system of suitable levers 66 and 61.

The tongue for connecting the body 60 with a suitable power source such as a tractor, is constructed and arranged in the same manner as the apparatus heretofore described, and includes the same type of latching mechanism. The tongue, however, it attached to the body 60 by means of a suitable swivel-joint which may be either a common pin or a balljoint, to permit relative movement between the body 60 and the tongue when the body is rotated upon the axis of the wheel 63 in the same manner that the body I0 is rotated upon the axis of the wheel I9 heretofore disclosed and described.

While the apparatus disclosed and described herein constitutes a preferredform of the invention yet itis to be understood that the apparatus is capable of alteration without departing from the'spirit of the invention, and that all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A load-carrying apparatus and lifting mechanism therefor including in combination, a body, axle means adjacent the bottom wall of said body for supporting said body in co-operation with wheel means carried upon said axle means, a telescoping tongue extending from said body having one part thereof attached to the body and a part movable relative to the first part, rigid means attached to said body at a point located above said axle and to said movable part of said tongue, latch means for holding said movable part of said tongue in extended position to hold said body in position with the bottom wall thereof raised from the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, brake means operably connected with said wheel meansizmprevent rotation thereof during extension vement of said movable part of said tongue in towing direction of the apparatus relative to said one part thereof for causing rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means to lift the bottom wall of the said body, and means for releasing said latch means to permit relative movement between said movable part with its rigid means, and said one part of said tongue after release of said brake means to cause rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means and lowering of the bottom wall thereof toward the surface upon which the wheel means are supported.

2. A load-carrying apparatus and lifting mechanism therefor including in combination,

a body, axle means adjacent the bottom wall of wall thereof raised from the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, brake means operably connected with said wheel means to prevent rotation thereof during. extension movement -of said movable part of said tongue in towing direction of the apparatus relative to said one part thereof for causing rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means to lift the bottom wall of the said body, and means for releasing said latch means to permit relative movement between said movable part with its rigid means, and said one part of said tongue after release of said brake means to cause rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means and lowering of the bottom wall thereof toward the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, said latch means being operable to prevent relative' movement between the parts of said tongue when said body is in said last-mentioned position.

3. A load-carrying apparatus and lifting mechanism therefor including in combination, a body, axle means adjacent the bottom wall of said body for supporting said body in co-operation with wheel means carried upon said axle means, a telescoping tongue extending from said body having one part thereof attached to the body and a part movable relative to the first part, rigid means attached to said body at a point located above said axle and to said movable part of said tongue, latch means for holding said movable part of said tongue in extended position to hold said body in position with the bottom wall thereof raised from the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, brake means operably connected with said wheel means to prevent rotation thereof during extension movement of said movable part of said tongue in towing direction of the apparatus relative to said one part thereof for causing rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means to lift the bottom wall of the said body, means for releasing said latch means to permit relative movement between said movable part with its rigid means, and said one part of said tongue after release of said brake means to cause rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means and lowering of the bottom wall thereof toward the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, said latch means being operable to prevent relative movement between the parts of said tongue when said body is in said lastmentioned position, and spring means for selectively biasing said latch means in either of its holding positions.

4. A load-carrying apparatus and lifting mechanism therefor including in combination, a body, axle means adjacent the bottom wall of said body for supporting said body in cooperation with wheel means carried upon said axle means, a telescoping tongue extending from said body having one part thereof attached to the body and a part movable relative to the first part, rigid means attached to said body at a point located above said axle and to said movable part of said tongue, latch means for holding said movable part of said tongue in extended position to hold said body in position with the bottom wall thereof raised from the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, brake means operably connected with said wheel means to prevent rotation thereof during extension movement of said movable part of said tongue in towing direction of the apparatus relative to said one part thereof for causing rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means to lift the bottom wall of the said body, and means for releasing said latch means to permit relative movement between said movable part with its rigid means, and said one part of said tongue after release of said brake means to cause rotation of said body about the axis of said wheel means and lowering of the bottom wall thereof toward the surface upon which the wheel means are supported, said rigid means including plate means, and tie bar means connecting said plate means with said movable part of said tongue.

URBAN R. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 207,217 Squire Aug. 20, 1878 1,563,685 Boys Dec. 1, 1925 2,185,794 Lewis Jan 2, 1940 2,373,710 Rutledge Apr. 17, 1945 

